Centrifugal extractor



April 2, 1957 H. c. ELLIS 2,787,377

CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTOR Filed June 21. 1954 9 SheetsSheet 1 INVENTOR.- 1 HUBER'T c. ELLIS Y 1 1,3 1 all,

April 2, 1957 H. c. ELLIS 2,787,377

CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTOR Filed June 21. 1954 l 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 HUBERT c. ELLIS' BY aA...,aM-./+i/M ATT'YS April 2, 1957 H. c. ELLIS 2,787,377

CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTOR Filed June 21, 1954 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 3,

INVENTOR. HUBERT C. ELLIS BY L72 10L MvZ/M ATT'YS April 1957 H. c. ELLIS 2,787,377

CENTRIFUGAL. EXTRACTOR Filed June 21, 1954 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 F|G.5 O

FIG. 6

- INVENTOR. HUBERT c. ELLIS BY M 9L. Abbi/M ATT'YS p il 2, 1957 H. c. ELLIS 2,787,377

CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTOR Filed June 21, 1954 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 has FIG/7 g C\ I47 COVER MOTOR CLOSE START 2:6 2'6 Y 151mm- 2 o 220 HUBERT C. ELLIS BY 7 M L5M+W April 1957 H. c. ELLIS 2,787,377

. CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTOR Filed June 21, 1954 9 Sheets-Sh eet 6 FIG. ll FIG. I2

INVENTOR. HUBERT C. ELLIS BY M, wZ/M ATT'YS United States This invention relates to improvements in centrifugal extractors of a type particularly suited for use in laundries and cleaning establishments for removing excess water or other liquid cleaning agents from clothing and other fabrics. The invention, more particularly, relates to improvements in automatic control and driving mechanism that are very useful in extractors of the kind just referred to wherein a rotatable centrifuging container or basket is mounted so as to permit a certain amount of wobbling or oscillatory and lateral vibrative movement thereof resulting from unbalance of the container and its contents during rotation.

In extractors of the kind just stated, the extractor basket is preferably mounted upon a vertical shaft journaled at its lower end in a horizontal base that is itself suspended by suitable snubber-like mechanism permitting limited lateral movement of the base with the basket radially of the normal vertical axis of the basket and shaft. Electric motors having suificient power to drive large extractors of this type may be fixedly mounted upon the movable base alongside the extractor basket or beneath the basket alongside the shaft, but it is sometimes preferable to mount the motor independently of the remaining parts of the extractor on the floor or on some other stationary foundation alongside the extractor. This independent mounting of the motor gives rise to certain additional driving problems due to the complex pattern of wobbling and lateral vibratory movements which the rotating basket and shaft and the movable base undergo during operation of the extractor. If the shaft of the drive motor is located, for example, in a fixed vertical axis alongside the machine, the distance between the motor shaft and the shaft upon which the extractor basket is mounted will vary during rotation of the unbalanced basket, and the drive beltstherebetween will first be excessively tight and the next instant will be excessively loose or slack, depending upon the pattern and extent of the wobble and vibration of the basket and its shaft. It has been suggested that, in order to keep the belts under constant tension, the drive motor may be movably mounted and the movable base of the extractor be joined thereto by a mechanical yoke" that will cause the motor to move with the base and thereby maintain a fixed distance between the'motor shaft and the basket shaft. This suggestion, however, has not been a completely satisfactory solution to the problem. The complex movements of the movable base resulting'from unbalance of the centrifuging container requiresthe use of universal joints in such yokes. These'universal joints are subject to considerable Wear and tear due to the vibration involved, and the belts themselves, being continuously under tension even when the machine is at a standstill, tend to stretch and become worn. These factors cause the belts quickly to become loose and frequent adjustment of such yoke's'" is' therefore required. Furthermore, because theyokescause the belts to be held underco'ntinuoustension when the yokes are properly adatent C ill) "ice

2 justed, it is difiicult to rotate the centrifuging containers by hand to distribute their contents during loading since manual rotation of the containers also turns the drive motors and their shafts.

An object of the present invention is to overcome. and avoid all of the aforesaid difliculties and disadvantages by providing an automatically controlled centrifugal extractor having an independently mounted drive motor pivotally suspended beside the extractor and its movable base, and having pneumatically operated means incorporated in the automatic cycle controlling system for the extractor for resiliently urging the motor and the movable base in opposite directions away from each other to tighten the drive belt or belts extending from the motor shaft to the extractor basket shaft. In providing this solution to the problem no attempt is made to establish and maintain a particular predetermined fixed distance between the motor shaft and the extractor basket shaft. instead of both shafts, in effect, are resiliently urged away from each other and the actual space therebetween is governed and limited by the length of the belt or belts, thereby establishing and maintaining proper tension in the belts regardless of wear that may occur therein and in mechanical parts, while at the same time causing the motor and the movable base to swing and vibrate together in unison during the vibrative movements of the rotated extractor basket.

A further object of the invention is to provide in said centrifugal extractor automatic means by which the belt tensioning means is actuated to separate the drive motor and the movable base of the extractor during only a portion of the automatic cycle of operation of the machine.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide in a centrifugal extractor means by which the drive belt or belts are automatically tightened immediately prior to energization of the drive motor, and are resiliently maintained in a tensioned' condition while the motor is running and during the period in which the extractor basket is subject to vibration, the tension in the belts being subsequently released in response to reduction in the rotative speed of the motor so that when the extractor basket has been stopped for unloading and for reloading, the tension in the belts is relaxed, thereby prolonging the life of the belts and permitting easy manual rotation of the extractor basket.

These and numerous other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of one embodiment thereof, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of one type of centrifugal extractor embodying a preferred form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical cross-section taken substantially through the center of the extractor basket and its enclosure, and substantially through the center of a motor enclosure and housing embodying the means for rotating the extractor basket;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed view showing in crosssection certain details of the resilient belt tensioning and control mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal cross-section taken through one side of the upper portion of the driving motor housing showing one of the resilient trunnion means by which the drive motor is pivotally suspended;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a brake operating mechanism by which rotation of the extractor basket is slowed and brought to a stop near the end of one cycle of operation;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the brake mechanism of Fig. 5;

Fig, 7 is an elevational view of the front face of a housing for a timer and certainof the control mechanism which may be mounted on an upright post adjacent the extractor for selectively controlling the automatic operation of the extractor;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on an enlarged scale through the casing for the timer and control mechanism;

Figs. 9 and 10 are fragmentary detailed views, on a still further enlarged scale, of a solenoid tripper pin employed in the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken in a vertical plane through a valve operated by the left hand lever on the front of the housing illustrated in Fig. 7, showing interior details of the valve structure;

Fig. 12 is a similar cross-section taken in a vertical plane through a valve operated by the right hand lever shown in Fig. 7, illustrating the interior details of the valve mechanism;

Fig. 13 is a vertical cross-section taken through a motor controlled venting valve located on the upper end of the shaft of the drive motor for the extractor, this valve, like the others illustrated in the drawings, being employed in automatic control of the extractor and the belt tensioning means;

Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken through one of two identical diaphragm control valves employed in the fluid circuit used for controlling the automatic operation of the extractor and the belt tensioning means;

Fig. 15 is a similar cross-section taken through the double check valve used in the system;

Fig. 16 is a schematic illustration of the condition of the various parts of the electrical and fluid operated control mechanism for automatically controlling the operation of the extractor and the belt tensioning means, the condition of the mechanism being shown to correspond to the condition existing when the extractor is approaching the end of its automatic cycle of operation, the power to the drive motor having been cut-off and the brake applied to bring the extractor basket to a stop;

Fig. 17 is a similar view showing the condition of the control system after the extractor basket has been brought to a full stop, a cover automatically opened, brake released, and the belt slack take-up mechanism also released;

Fig. 18 is a similar view showing the condition of the automatic control system after the extractor has been filled and started on another of its automatically controlled operating cycles, the cover having automatically been brought to its closed position, the belt slack take-up device having automatically tens-ioned the driving belts, and the driving motor having been energized to begin rotation of the extractor basket; and,

Fig. 19 is a similar view showing the condition of the automatic control system immediately after timed rotation of the extractor basket has been completed and the brake has been applied to begin slowing down the extractor.

The extractor shown in the drawings is a fully automatic type of a kind adapted to be employed in laundries and the like for the purpose of centrifugally extracting water or other cleaning fluids from clothing and fabrics after the same have been washed or cleaned. Broadly Speaking,

the extractor at the beginning of one of its cycles of operation is at a stand-still with its cover in a raised position exposing the rotatable extractor basket located within the extractor casing. An operator lowers a load of clothing into the basket and arranges them in a balanced relation by turning the free basket manually and distributing the load therein as appears to be necessary. The machine is then ready to begin its automatic cycle of operation which is initiated by the operator when he sets a timer located in the control panel adjacent the extractor and raises two control levers that will be explained in detail hereinafter. The automatic cycle of operation, including .the tensioning of the drive belts, begins immediately upon the raising of the two control levers and the operator is thereafter free to engage in other activity until the automatic cycle of operation has run its course.

Referring now to the drawings, the extractor comprises an outer casing having an upstanding cylindrical outer wall 20 secured at its lower edge to the upper edge of an upstanding ring 21 of a base portion 22 having an upwardly projecting center 23 (Fig. 2). The base portion 22 of the casing may be of welded construction and its upwardly projecting center portion 23 is provided with bearings 24 and 25 for retaining a vertically disposed shaft 26. The base portion of the extractor is provided with three circumferentially spaced projection 27 which extend radially outwardly and upwardly, the outermost portions of the projections being disposed within support pedestals 28 that are fixed, as by bolts 29, upon a triangular support 30 that is preferably firmly fixed on a floor 31 or any other suitable foundation for the extractor.

The outer ends of the radial projections 27 on the base portion of the extractor casing are supported from the upper ends of the pedestals 28 by means of suspension rods 32. The opposite ends of each of these rods extend through suitable bores in the upper portion of a pedestal 28 and through the outer end of a projection 27, as best seen in Fig. 2. A rubber core 33 is seated in the bore at the top of the pedestal 28 and the upper end of the rod 32 is provided with a nut 34 and a washer 35 which bears upon the rubber core 33 when any downward thrust is exerted upon the rod 32. A similar rubber core 36 is provided in the lower end of the bore in the projection 27 and the lower end of the rod 32 is provided with a nut 37 and the washer 38 bearing against the rubber core 36 and thus supporting projection 27 and the base portion 22 of the extractor casing. Substantially vertical movement of the base portion 22 of the extractor casing is limited or prevented by a spacer tube 39 encompassing the rod 32 and terminating in flared end portions 40 that bear upon a rubber core 41 mounted in the lower end of the bore in the upper portion of the pedestal 28 and rubber core 42 in the upper portion of the bore in the radially extending projection 27.

The rubber cores 33 and 41 in the upper ends of the pedestals 28, and the rubber cores 36 and 42 in the radial projections 27 on the base portion of the extractor are resilient but sufficiently firm to snub and dampen relative movement between the base portion 22 of the extractor casing and the pedestals 28. This resilient mounting of the casing 28 absorbs the vibration and precession that occurs during rotation of an extractor basket located within the casing.

The upper end of the shaft 26 projects above the uppermost bearing 24 in the upwardly projecting center 23 of the base portion 22 of the extractor casing and provides a slightly beveled seat for a center projection 43 and the base 44 of an extractor basket having a perforated outer cylindrical wall 45 reinforced by outer ribs 46 The upper extremity 47 of the shaft 26 is reduced In size and is threaded to receive a removable cap 48 that secures the basket in place on the upper end of the shaft. At the lower end of the shaft 26, which extends below the level of the base portion 22 of the extractor casing, there is mounted a hub 49 having a drive pulley 50 and a brake drum 5!) formed integrally thereon.

The upper edge of the casing for the extractor is provided with an inturned rim 51 for receiving a circular cover 52 which, when in closed position as illustrated in Figs. land 2, rests upon the rim in a sealing fashion. The cover is provided with a pair of parallel ribs 53 extending completely across the cover, to reinforce the same. and terminating at one end in projections 54 that extend outwardly well beyond the outer periphery of the extractor casing. The cover is pivotally mounted on brackets 55 secured to the outer surface of the upstanding wall 20 of the casing and projecting above the upper edge of the casing to receive a shaft 56 which extends through the brackets 55 and through the projections 54 on the ribs of the cover so that the cover may be raised and lowered in a-pivotal manner'on the shaft 56 which rotates in the brackets 55.

- In; order. to. raise: and. lower-the cover fluid pressure op erated cylinders 57. arcprov-ided,. one for each of the arm-projections 54. Each cylinder 57 is provided with a.piston 58 and a piston rod 59 extending upwardly therefrom through a packing gland inthe upper end of the cylinder. The upper end of each of the piston rods 59 is provided with a yoke member 60-thatis pivotally connected to the outer end of one of the. arm projections 54 ofa rib member 53 on the cover. The lower end of each cylinder 57 is closed and is pivotallymounted, as by a pivot pin 61 (Fig. 1), upon a bracket 62 that is welded or otherwise secured to the lower rim 21. of the base of theextractor casing. It willthus be understood that when fluid under pressure is admitted to the cylinders on the upper side of the pistons 58. therein, the piston and the piston rods 59 will be moved downwardly to raise the cover 52. Similarly, when fluid under pressure is admitted into the cylinders below the pistons 58, the cover 52 will be moved from its open position to the closed position illustrtaed in Figs. 1 and 2. The extent of the opening movement of the cover is preferably limited by downwardly extending projections 63 on the arms 54 which bump or engage the heads of adjustable stop bolts 64, (Fig. 1) threadably mounted in the brackets 55.

A cover switch 65 is secured to the upper edge of the extractor casing wall 20 between the mounting brackets 55 and comprises a casing enclosing an electrical switch Operated by shaft 66 that has on its outer end an arm 67 (Fig. 2) pivotally interconnected by means of alink 68 with a similar arm 69 fixed upon the transverse shaft 56. The electrical arrangement of the switch 65 is such that when the cover is raised the switch contacts contained within the switch casing are open, and when the cover is closed the switch contacts are also closed, as will be more fully explained later herein.

The means for exerting braking action upon the brake drum 56 is more fully illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. A

brake band 70, having a brake shoe 7.1 on its inner surface, partially surrounds the brake drum 50' and has end connectors '72 and 73 thereon for applying the brake to; stoprotation of the shaft 26 and the extractor basket mounted thereon. One end of the fitting 72 has a perforated ear 74 through which extends a rod 75 connected at one of its ends to the fitting 73. On the opposite end of the rod 75 there is a coil spring 76 confined between the. ear 74 and awasher 77 held on the end of the rod 75 by means of a nut 78. The action of the spring is such as to tend to draw the brake band 76: about the brake drum 51'! to apply braking force upon the drum.

Connected to the opposite. end of the fitting 73 is an operating rod 79. The free end of the rod 79 is pivotally connected at 80 to one arm 81 of a. bell, crank mounted upon. a fixed pivot 82 and; having; an opposite operating arm 83. The free end of the operating arm 83, is connected by a pivot pin 84 to a. yoke member 85 on the outer end of a piston rod 86 which extends from a brake cylinder 87 pivotally' mounted at 88 upon the under side of the bottom portion 22 of the extractor casing. When fluid pressure is applied to the front side of the piston in the brake cylinder 87, the piston rod 86 'is moved outwardly to pivot the crank arms 81 and S3 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5, pulling the rod '79 to the right and compressing the spring 76' to' release the brake. nv the other hand, when the fluid, pressure is released from the brake cylinder, the compressive force in the ,spring 76 causes the. spring to extend, drawing the rod 75 -to the left, as seen in Fig. 5, and wrapping the. brake band 76 tightly about the brake drum b to apply braking' force to the drum.

Thedrive pulley 56, formed on the hub 49 mounted-on the lower end of a verticallyarranged shaft 91 of an electric drivem'otor 92. This drive motor 92 is resilient ly and pivotally suspended within a casing 93 located to one side. of the extractor casing 22. The casing 93 comprises a base plate 94 adjustably secured upon an anchor plate 95 (Fig. l) fixedly secured to the floor 31 by means of anchor bolts 96. The base plate 94 is provided with a plurality of longitudinal parallel slots 97. In each of these slots there is a bolt 93 which extends downwardly therethrough and is threaded into the anchor plate 95. Thus, by loosening the bolts 98, the casing 93 and the drive motor 92 therein, may be shifted either toward or away from the shaft 26 upon which the extractor basket is mounted.

The side of the casing 93 next adjacent the extractor casing is open, as indicated by the numeral 99 in Fig. 2. A mounting ring 100 is welded or otherwise secured to the upright interior walls of the casing 93 adjacent their upper end, and openings 101 (Fig. 4) are provided therein on its opposite sides. Each of these openings 101 receives an end 102 of a trunnion 1413. Except for its end 102 the remainder of each trunnion is knurled or otherwise grooved, as shown in Fig. 4, and is encompassed by and bonded to a resilient rubber bushing 104 which is fixedly retained in a bracket 105. The brackets 105 have a motor mounting plate 196 secured to their undersides by means of bolts 107, and the motor 92, in turn, is fastened to the underside of the motor mounting plate 106 by means of suitable spacers and bolts 108, as illustrated in Fig. 2. It will thus be understood that the drive motor 92 is resiliently and pivotally supported by the rubber bonded trunnions in the motor casing 93, the axis of pivotation being at right angles to a plane intersecting the axes of the motor shaft 91- and the shaft 26 of the extractor basket. It will also be noted that the axis of pivotation, of the motor 92 is substantially on a level with the upper end. of the shaft 26.

The. lower end of the motor 92. is provided with a plate 199 which has welded to its edge, next adjacent the extractor casing, a downwardly extending L-shaped bracket 110 having a recessed, circular seat 111 formed in its vertical face. Riding in this seat is a tapered end of a pin 112 that is internally threaded to receive the threaded end of a rod 113 which extends freely through a vertical arm of another L-shaped bracket 114 welded or otherwise secured to the bottom of the extractor casing 221 opposite the bracket 110. The rod 113 is encompassed by a. compression spring 115, one end of which bears against the downwardly extending leg of the bracket 114 and the other end of which bears against a pin 116 extending through the rod 113, as shown in Fig. 2. The compressive force in the spring 113 thus tends to urge the rod 113 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, pressing the end of the pin 112 firmly into the seat 111 on the bracket 110 and tending to pivot the motor slightly about the trunnions 103v to maintain the belts 89 only sufficiently taut to prevent the belts from slipping from the pulleys 50 and 9b. This normal state of tension in the belts 89, which is preferably such that the belts will be maintained in a state only slightly more tensioned than would be characterized by a full slack condition, may be very accurately adjusted by turning the pin 112 on the threadedend of the rod 113. A lock nut 117 is provided on the: rod 113 for locking the pin 112 in its adjusted position. Gross adjustments may of course be made by loosening the bolts 93 and sliding the motor casing 93 onthe plate 95.

As illustrated in detail in Fig. 3, a cylinder casing, designated generally by the numeral 118, is secured to the back side of the downwardly extending arm 114'of the bracket 114, by means of bolts 119. This casing may comprise a cup shaped base member 120 secured by the bolts 119 and telescopically receiving a deeper cylindrical, cup shaped member 121. The left hand end of. the cup shape member 121, asviewed in Fig, 3,, is provided with a vertical wall 122 which has an inner cup 123 secured therein by means of short flat headed bolts 124 and external nuts 125. The wall 122 has a centrally located aperture 126 therein and the center of the inner cup member 123 has an apertured boss 127 formed thereon which extends outwardly through the opening 126 in the wall 122 and receives a fluid pressure line 128.

The end of the rod 113 (Fig. 2), which extends through the downwardly extending arm 114 of the bracket 114, has a piston rod 129 (Fig. 3) fixed thereon. The free end 130 of this piston rod 129 is of reduced diameter and has a circular mounting plate 131 thereon. This mounting plate receives a cup shaped piston 132, and upon the head of the piston there is a circular ring gripping plate 133 having an inturned circular flange 134 which is spaced outwardly from the adjacent surfaces of the piston 132 and grips therebetween a bead 135 provided on one edge of a flexible rubber ring 136. The outer periphery of the ring gripping flange 134 slidably engages the inner surface of the inner cup 123. The edge of the inner cup 123 is flared outwardly to provide a rim 137 that is spaced inwardly from the adjacent inner surface of the casing member 121 and grips therebetween a bead 138 formed on the other edge of the rubber ring 136. The ring gripping member 13, the cup shape piston member 132, and the mounting plate 131 are all secured to the reduced end portion 130 of the shaft 129 by means of a screw, not shown, threaded into the end of the shaft.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that when fluid under pressure is applied through the fluid pressure line 128, fluid enters a space 139 between the inner cup member 123 and the adjacent surface of the ring gripping member 133, forcing the piston assembly of the piston rod 129 to the right, as seen in Fig. 3, the rubber ring 136 preventing leakage of the fluid past the piston 132. This movement of the piston rod 129 forces the rod 113 (Fig. 2) to the right, thereby separating further the motor 92 and the movable base portion 22 of the extractor. This results in tensioning of the belts 89, most of the movement between the motor 92 and the base portion 22 being accomplished by pivotation of the motor on its trunnions. The assembly is shown in Fig. 3 in the position it occupies before fluid pressure is applied thereto through the line 128. In Fig. 2 the parts are illustrated in their extended condition, representing their positions when fluid pressure is being exerted thereon through the line 128.

As seen in Fig. 2, a fluid reservoir 140 is employed in conjunction with the cylinder and piston assembly just described. The fluid pressure line 128 leads to the bottom of the fluid reservoir and the reservoir and the line preferably contain petroleum or mineral oil 141, the upper level of the oil in the reservoir being well below the top of the reservoir when the piston 132 is in its retracted position shown in Fig. 3. The reservoir 140 is fluid tight and is provided adjacent its opposite end with a plug 142 which may be removed in order that the oil 141 may be introduced into the reservoir. The upper interior of the reservoir provides space for air which is introduced into the reservoir automatically, in a manner later to be described, through a pressure line 143. It will be understood that the introduction of air under pressure through the line 143 applies pressure to the oil 141 to cause the piston 132 to extend. Release of the air pressure on the line 143, on the other hand, permits the piston and its piston rod 129 and the rod 113 to return to the retracted position illustrated in Fig. 3.

A timer and control housing 144, illustrated in Figs. 1 and 7, is employed in connection with the extractor and is preferably mounted upon a post 145 adjacent the extractor casing 22. The timing mechanism and the particular valves contained within the timing and con trol housing may be like those illustrated and described in my Patent No. 2,521,054, issued September 5, 1950. As here illustrated, they comprise a timing device 146 (Fig. 8) having an operating knob 147 which may be set for different time intervals. This timer is mounted behind a panel 148 which forms a front of the housing 144. Extending through slots 149 and 150 (Fig. 7) in the panel 148 are a pair of control levers 151 and 152 which respectively control two valve structures. The lever 152 controls a normally open valve, shown in detail in Fig. 11, to control the operation of the cover 52 by means of the cylinders 57 and to control, in part, the belt tensioning means previously described. Because the lever 152 controls a normally open valve, it will hereinafter sometimes be designated as the NO lever and the valve (Fig. 11) which it operates will sometimes be referred to as the NO valve. The other lever 151 controls a normally closed valve structure, illustrated in detail in Fig. 12, for controlling the supply of current to the electrical drive motor 92. Because the valve controlled by the lever 151 is normally closed, that valve will hereinafter sometimes be designated as the NC valve and the lever 151 will sometimes be designated as the NC lever.

The normally open valve (Fig. 11) controlled by the NO lever 152 comprises a barrel fitting 153 and a guide member 154 disposed below it attached to a supporting block 155 which is suitably secured in the control housing 144. An upper packing gland 156 is threaded into the upper end of the barrel fitting 153 and has an internal recess 157 for receiving one end of the spring 158, the other end of which engages a reduced portion 159 of a stem 160 extending loosely through a passage 161 leading to a ball recess 162 containing a ball 163. The ball, when in the position illustrated in Fig. 11, is seated at the upper end of a hollow sleeve 164 disposed above a packing gland 165 that is threaded intothe lower end of the barrel 153. A stem 166 moves freely in the gland 165 and extends loosely through the sleeve 164. The stem 166 bears at its upper end against the lower side of the ball 163 and its lower end extends through the gland 165 and into a bore 167 of a fitting 168 slidably contained in the guide 154. The lower end of the stem 166 is cushioned in the bore 167 by a spring 169 seated in the bore and tending to press the stem 166 upwardly.

The lower end of the fitting 168 in the normally open valve of Fig. 11 is connected by a link 170 to an car 171 projecting from the lever 152. It will thus be seen that when the lever 152 is moved upwardly, the ball 163 in the valve is raised resiliently off its seat at the upper end of the hollow sleeve 164 and is pressed against a valve seat 172 at the upper end of the ball recess 162. The ball recess 162 has a pressure outlet passage 173 extending therefrom into the block 155 from which it is connected by means of a pipe 174 to one end of'a diaphragm valve B, later to be described.

At the upper end of the stem 160 in the valve of Fig. 11 there is a chamber 175 having a passage 176 extending therefrom and connected through the block 155 with a fluid pressure supply pipe 177. At the bottom of the sleeve 164, and between it and the adjacent gland 165, are openings 178 communicating with a surrounding chamber 179 connected by a passage 180, through the block 155, to a pressure discharge or vent opening 181.

The normally closed vallve NC of Fig. 12 is somewhat similar in structure and operation to the normally open valve NO just described. The valve of Fig. 12 is mounted upon the same adjustment block 155 in the control housing 144 and comprises a barrel fitting 182 having an upper packing gland 183 threaded into its upper end, the gland having a recess 184 receiving one end of a spring 185 the lower end of which engages a ball 186 and tends to seat the ball downwardly upon a valve seat 187. The ball is movable upwardly against the pressure of the spring 185 in a chamber 188 that is connected to a passage 139 that inxturn is-connected and is adapted to seat upon a valve seat 194 at the lower end of the barrel passage 191. It will bev seen from Fig. 12 that the direction of movement of the ball 192 to its closed position is opposite to the direction of movement of the ball 186 to its closed position on the seat 187. Extending from the chamber 193 is a passage 195 which connects with a vent passage 196 extending through the block 155. intermediate the ball valves 186 and 192, and intermediate the passages 189 and 195, there is an outlet passage 197 extending from the barrel passage 191 through the block 155 and connected to a pipe 3113 which leads to a diaphragm valve A, later to be referred to.

To operate the valve balls 186 and 192, a thrust stem 197' slidably extends upwardly through a gland 198 that is threaded into the lower end of the barrel fitting 182. The upper end of the stern 197' engages the lower side of the ball 192 and its. lower end extends into a bore 199 of a fitting 20d slidably retained in the guide 154. The fitting 2% is connected for operation, by means of a link 2011, to an car 2112 on the lever 151. The bore 199 of the fitting Zilh contains a spring 203 that cushions the lower end of the stem 197.

From the above description of the normally open valve of Fig. 11, it will be understood that the valve structure is such that fluid under pressure may flow from the upper inlet passage 176, through the passage 161, and through the passage 173 into the pipe 174 when the lever 152 is in its lowered position. On the other hand, it will be understood that, when the lever 152 is raised, the ball 163 is closed on the seat 172 to stop the incoming flow of fluid, and "a relief connection is established between the outlet passage 173 and the vent passage 180 through the hollow sleeve 164. Similarly, with reference to the normally closed valve illustrated in Fig. l2, when the lever 151 is in its lower position, the upper bald 186 is in its closed position upon the valve seat 187 to stop incoming flow of fluid, and a vent connection is established from the outlet passage 197 through the bore 191 and past the ball valve 192 to the vent passage 195-196. When the lever 151 is raised, the lower valve ball 192 is moved upwardly into closed position upon its seat 1% to close the vent, and the upper ball 186 is raised from its seat 137 to establish a pressure connection between the passage 189 and the passage 197 through the bore 191.

Each of the valve levers 151 and 152 is mounted upon a pivot 204- in a support 205 extending below the guide 154 which may be secured to the lower side of the mounting block. 155 by means of fastening screws 206. The pivotal mounting of each lever may in each instance be adjusted by a stud 2117 which projects from each lever and provides means for engaging a fixed stop 208 carried by the support 2115, thus limiting the downward movement of each of the levers.

The normal position of both levers 151 and 152-is in the downward position, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and when raised, the parts controlled by the levers are maintained in their upward or raised positions by means of an over-center movement of the links 170 and 2111 with respect to their respective connecting ears 171 and 2112. Means is accordingly provided to move the links and levers outwardly in order to return them past the overcenter position to their lowered positions. This means comprises a solenoid 269 (Fig. 8) located in the upper portion of the control housing 1154 The solenoid has a winding 21;) tor actuating and raising an armature 211 when the solenoid is energized. The armature is connected at its lower end to the upper end of. the vertically l0 movable rod .212 having an aperturedfitting 121-3 atits' lower end, as shown more clearly inFigs. v9 andlt). Ilse fitting is connected at each side thereof to a pair of arms 2 14 of identical operating members 215 by means of a common pivot pin 216, both arms being mounted on a common pivot 217 (Fig. 8). One operating member 21Sis provided for each of the levers 15.1 and .152 and is arranged adjacent, and in line with, the link or 201) of the corresponding lever, each operating member comprising an upward projection 218 having .a roller 219 carried by the projection and adapted to be engaged by the corresponding link 170 or 201 when its lever 151, or 152 is manually raised. Raising the levers 151 and 152 causes the links 1711 and 291 to pass through their overcenter positions raising the rollers 219 and causingjthe connecting rod 212 to be moved downwardly. Onthe other hand, energization of the solenoid raises the connecting rod which in turn causes the links to 'be kicked forwardly and permit the levers 151 and 152 to return to their normal positions. Thus,.the levers 151 and 152 are electrically moved by deflection of the connecting links 170 and 201 past their operating center line so that the springs 167 and 199 or" the valves of Figs. 11 and 12 will return the levers to their lower positions, thereby returning the valves to the condition thereof shown in the drawings.

The mechanism just described may be easily adjusted so that energization of the solenoid 210 will return. only the lever 151 to its lowermost position. This may be done by loosening the set screw 220, sliding the pivot pin 216 to the position shown in Fig. 10, and then retightening the set screw. When this has been done, energization of the solenoid will actuate only the projection 21?. and roller 219 that engages and trips the link 201 over its over-center position, thereby returning only the lever 151 and its corresponding NC valve (Fig. 12) to their normal positions. it will become apparent as the present description proceeds that this adjustment changes the manner in which the cover of the extractor is opened at the end of an automatic cycle of operation of the extractor. As will be explained, after the extractor basket has been rotated for a predetermined time'interval, the automatic control system cuts off the electric current to the motor and automatically applies the brake to slow down the extractor basket and bring it to a halt. When rotation of the extractor basket has stopped, the brake is automatically released and the tension in the drive belts is also released. At this time the cover 52 is ordinarily also automatically raised. With the sliding pivot pin 216 moved to the position shown in Fig. 10, however, the cover will not be automatically raised at the end of a cycle. Instead, after rotation of the extractor basket has stopped, the cover will be raised only .when the operator manually lowers the lever 152. This arrangement is of course advantageous when it is desired that the cover should not be raised until immediately before the operator is ready to remove the load from the extractor.

This adjustment of the pivot pin 216 to render the opening of the cover non-automatic may easily be made from the back side of the housing 144 and, if it is desired, an additional set screw similar to the set screw 220 illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 may be provided in connection with either one or both of the arms 214 for engaging the pin 216 and holding it in either adjusted position.

In the operation of the solenoid 299 a microswitch located below the solenoid alongside the rod 212. is operated by a projection 221 attached to the rod 212 or to some other part moved by the solenoid, the switch being closed upon upward movement of the levers 151 or 152' and opened by energization of the solenoid. The switch is electrically arranged, as illustrated in the wiring diagram (Fig. 18), so that the opening of the microswitch breaksthe solenoid energized circuit where-bythe solenoid is only momentarily energized. When the solenoid is energized, it opens the microswitch and also trips both valve levers 151 and 152 to their down positions, as above described, allowing the valves controlled thereby (Figs. 11 and 12) to return to their downward positions.

- Each of the valves operated by the levers 151 and 152 is connected to a diaphragm valve A or B, respectively, one of the diaphragm valves being more clearly shown in Fig. 14. These valves are identical, and each comprises a three-way fitting 222 having an internally threaded passage containing in one of its ends a plug 223 and in its opposite end a fitting 224 having an internal chamber 225 and a reduced end passage 226. These two end fittings 223 and 224 each have opposed end recesses forming a chamher 227 for a valve ball 228. these two fittings 223 and 224 terminate short of each other at their peripheries, forming a circular passage 229 connected with an outer chamber 230 which leads directly to a side passage 231 in the fitting 222. At the outer end of the end member 224 there is an enlarged head 232, recessed at its end to provide a seat for a diaphragm 233, and a recess 234 inwardly from the diaphragm for seating 21 headed plunger 23S therein, the head of the plunger engaging the diaphragm and the reduced port-ion 236 of the plunger being freely movable in the internal chamber 225. The lower end of the plunger has a stem 237 formed thereon of reduced diameter adapted to project into the end passage 226 and to engage the upper side of the valve ball 228 to press it from its seat at the lower end of the fitting 224 and to press it downwardly against a seat at the upper end of the fitting or plug 223. In the chamber 225 surrounding the stem 237 there is a spring 238 which bears at one of its ends upon the headed member 236 and at its other end upon the lower end of the chamber, thereby tending to urge the valve opera-ting stem 237 upwardly out of contact with the ball 228 and tending to press the diaphragm 233 outwardly or upwardly. The diaphragm is maintained in position in the enlarged head portion 232 of the fitting 224 by a clamping member 239 which has a threaded passage 240 extending to a chamber 241 on the outer or upper side of the diaphragm so that when .pressure is applied through this passage, the diaphragm is deflected downwardly against the pressure of the spring 238 to press the valve ball 228 away from its seat on the fitting 224 and to close a passage 242 in the plug 223, this passage 242 being connected with a threaded opening in the plug. Fig. 14 illustrates the parts of the valve in the posit-ion occupied when no inward pressure is being applied to the diaphragm 233. This is the condition existing in the diaphragm valve A as represented in Figs. 16, 17

and 19 and with respect to diaphragm valve B in Figs. 17 and 18.

Also employed in the fluid control system is a double check valve assembly, shown in detail in Fig. 15, which comprises a three-way T fitting 243 having a lateral passage 244 and opposite internally threaded end passages. Two similar end members 245 are threaded into the opposite ends of the fitting 243, each member having an externally threaded portion with a shoulder 246 formed thereon to engage the outer ends of the fitting 243, limiting their insertion therein. At the inner end of each fitting 245 there is a recess 247 having a centrally reduced passage 248 communicating therethrough with an outer internally threaded portion 249, the two inner recesses 247 forming a chamber for a valve ball 250 adapted to move loosely in the recess, under pressure applied from either end passage 248, to seal the other of the end passages 248, depending upon the direction in which pressure is applied. The inner ends of the members 245 terminate short of each other to providea space 251 communicating with an outer circular recess 252 between the ends of the members245 and the inner surface of the fitting 243. As seen in Fig. 15, one side of the circular recess 252is in communication with the passage 244, WitlilthiSv con- Istructionit will be understood that when pressure is ap- The inner extremities of 12 plied to the right-hand passage 248, as viewed in Fig. 15, the pressure will move the ball 250 to the left to seal he left-hand passage 248 and provide communication between the right-hand passage and the passage 244. Conversely, when pres-sure is applied to the left-hand passage 248, the ball 250 will be moved to the right to seal the right-hand passage 248 and establish communication between the left-hand passage and the passage 244.

This three-way check valve is connected for operation, as shown more clearly in Figs. 16 to 19, where it is designated as the valve T and is connected at its opposite ends to pipes 304 and 305 which are sometimes under pressure and sometimes connected to exhaust, the center or downward-1y extending passage 244 being connected by a pipe 256 to the brake cylinder 87 for applying pressure thereto and exhausting the same in controlling the application of the brake, as more fully described hereafter in connection with the operation of the system.

Also employed in the fluid control system is a motor speed responsive vent valve assembly, shown in detail in Fig. 13. This valve assembly is mounted on the upper end of the electric drive motor 92 and is responsive to the rotational speed of the motor shaft 91. A coupling memher 257 is threaded or otherwise secured to the upper end of the motor shaft 91 and has a driving slot 258 therein engaged by a tongue 259 on a coupling member 260. A smaller shaft 261 is threaded into the coupling member 260 and projects upwardly through a mounting base 262 fixed upon the upper end of the drive motor 92. The mounting base 262 has an anti-friction bearing 263 therein for rotatably mounting the shaft 261. At the bottom of the lowermost bearing there is a removable plate 264 held in place by screws 265 for retaining the bearings 263 in place, and at the top of the bearing a shoulder 266 is provided on the shaft 261 for retaining the upper portion of the anti-friction bearings 263 in place. The object to this construction is to maintain the shaft 261 in a fixed verti cal position but to permit a limited longitudinal play or movement of the motor shaft 91 with respect thereto.

A .fiy-ball governor mechanism responsive to the speed of the motor shaft 91 is mounted on the upper end of the shaft 261 and comprises a lower member 267 fixed to the shaft against the shoulder 266 by a pin 268 and an upper member 269 containing a bore 270 which is slidably received upon the upper end of the shaft 261 so that the upper member 269 is movable longitudinally with respect to the shaft. The lower and upper members 267 and 269 .are each provided with a pair of cars 271 and 272, be-

tween which are pivoting links 273 and 274, the links being arranged in pairs and each pair of links 273 and 274 having a common pivot 275 joining them and carrying a fly-ball or weight 276. Also extending between the two members 267 and 269, with its ends engaging the cars thereof and surrounding the shaft 261, is a coil spring 277 held in place by hub extensions of the lower and upper members 267 and 269. The spring 277 tends to separate the two members and to keep the fly-balls or weights 276 in their innermost positions.

Mounted on the base 262 there is a yoke 278 secured at opposite ends by fastening screws. The yoke extends above the top of the upper member 269 and is provided with an opening 279 loosely receiving an upward projection 280 on the top of the upper governor member 269. From this projection a stem 281 of reduced diameter extends upwardly. Secured to the upper side of the yoke 278 by means of a block 283, is a valve body 282 having a bottom bore 284 into which the stem 281 extends. The valve body also has a larger bore 285 opening from the upper end of the body for receiving a threaded cap 286 which has a stem 287 projecting downwardly nearly to the-bottom of the bore 285 when the cap is threaded into the upper end of the bore 285. The stem 287 of the cap 286 has an inner bore 288 therein for seating a coil spring 289 adapted to press a valve ball 290 down- :wardly against the upper end of the bore 284 which has a valve seat formed thereon. The lower end of the stern 2.37, below the threaded portion thereof, fits loosely Within the bore 285 to provide a chamber 291 which establishes communication between the area occupied by the ball 29d and a pressure inlet 292 connectedto a pipe 293. From the bore 284 and below the ball 29%) a small vent passage 294 extends diagonally upwardly to the outside of the block 283.

The principal object of the motor speed responsive valve mechanism of Fig. 13, just described, is to insure that certain fluid pressure operating mechanisms involved in the automatic control system will be vented only when the speed of the electric drive motor 92 has been reduced below a predetermined minimum speed. In this connection, it will be explained in greater detail later that the belt tensioning means and the lower ends of the cover operating cylinders 57 are vented through this valve when the motor has stopped or substantially stopped, thereby releasing the tension in the belts at that time and preparing the cover cylinders for raising. It may also be pointed out at this time that venting of the belt tensioning means and the lower ends of the cover cylinders 57 actuates the diaphragm valve B to admit pressure to the upper ends of the cylinders to raise the cover.

The outward movement of the fly-balls 276 when the speed of the motor is suflicient to throwthem outwardly by centrifugal force draws the upper movable member 269'downwardly, thereby withdrawing the stem 281 from contact with the valve ball 290 and allowing it to be moved downwardly by the spring 289 into seated position to seal the bore 284 and thus effectively closing the small vent passage 294. When the speed of the motor on the other hand is reduced to a predetermined minimum, the movable member 269 is moved upwardly by the spring 277 causing the, upwardly extending stem 281 thereon to engage the ball 2% and raise the same upwardly off of its seat against the pressure of the spring 289, thereby venting any pressure in the pipe 293 through the passages 291 and 292 and through the vent passage 2%.

If desired, the mechanism of the motor speed responsive venting valve, just described, may be covered by a casing 295 of any suitable material. This casing may itself be vented to prevent accumulation of pressure therein. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the upper end of the motor housing 93 may be provided with an upwardly extending cap 2% for accommodating the upper portion of the speed responsive valve and the casing 295, therefor. Both the cap 296 and. the casing 295 may be arranged for easy removal to gain access to the speed responsive valve mechanism for maintenance, adjustment and lubrication.

The normally open and normally closed valves of Figs. ll and 12, respectively, are contained within the control station housing 144, as previously described. The two diaphragm valves A and B, like that shown in Fig. 14 and previously described, are also preferably mounted within the control station housing 144 together with the two-way T check valve of Fig. 15. The schematic arrangement of these valves in the control station housing together with their related pipes and the mechanisms controlled. thereby are illustrated in Figs. 16 to 19. As there shown, fluidunder pressure, preferably air, is supplied to the system from any suitable source through a pipe 3% that leads directly to a pressure operated switch 301 having an electric contact 302 therein which is held in closed position whenever the air supply is at a pressure exceeding a suitable predetermined minimum. As will be later explained, this pressure switch 301 prevents the operation of the extractor when the air pressure has fallen below this minimum. From the air supply pipe 3% the previously mentioned pipe 177 extends to the inlet opening 176 of the normally open valve N of Fig. 11 and to the inlet port 189 of the normally closed valve NC of Fig. 12. The outlet opening 173 of the normally open valve of Fig. 11 is connected by the pipe 174 to the lower passage 242 of the diaphragm valve B, while the outlet passage 197 of the normally closed valve of Fig. 12 is connected by the pipe 303 to the upper passage 22% of the diaphragm valve. A. A branch. pipe 3:64 connects the pipe 303 to the left-hand passage 2-S249 of the double check valve T of Fig. 15, the lower passage 244 of which is connected by the pipe 256 to the brake cylinder 37, as previously mentioned. The right-hand passage 248249 of the T valve of Fig. 15 is connected by a pipe 395 to a pipe 306 extending from the outlet or side passage 231 of the diaphragm valve B to the upper ends of the cover operating cylinders 57. Also extending from the pipe 303 that leads from the outlet port of the normally closed valve Fig. 12 is a pipe 367 which leads to one end a one-way ball check valve 398 which, if desired, may be in the form of an elbow, as illustrated in Figs. 16 to 9. The other end of this one-way ball check valve 3% is connected by a pipe 309 leading to the lower inlet passage 242 of the diaphragm valve A, the side outlet passage 231 of which is connected by the pipe 293 that leads to the motor speed responsive venting valve of Fig. 13. This pipe 293 is also connected to the upper passage 24!) or" the diaphragm valve B so that when pressure exists in the pipe 293, the pressure therein will be exerted upon the diaphragm 233 of the diaphragm valve B to close the valve. The pipe sea leading from the elbow-shaped one-way check valve 308 to the lower end of the diaphragm valve A is connected by a pipe 310 which leads to the lower end of the cover cylinders 57. Extending from this pipe 310 is the previously mentioned pipe 143 which leads to the upper interior of the chamber 141 which has previously been described in connection with Fig. 2 and the details of the construction of the belt tensioning means. As perhaps best illustrated in Figs. 16 and 18, the one-way check valve 3118 is arranged between the pipes 3l7 and 341? in a way such that air may flow from the pipe 393 through the pipe 307 and into the pipe 309 but cannot flow in the reverse direction from the pipe 309 into the pipe 307.

The electrical circuit employed in conjunction with the fluid system for automatically controlling the operation of the extractor is shown schematically in Fig. 18, with only fragmentary portions of the schematic electric diagram being shown in Figs. 16, 17 and 19. Referring particularly to Fig. 18, the electric drive motor 92, which is preferably of the three phase type, is provided with electric current through three main leads 311, 312 and 313. in these leads there are the usual fuses and three main switches MS opened and closed by a contactor coil 314. This contactor coil is arranged in electric series with the cover switch 65, the micro-switch S and the pressure switch 301. This electrical series relationship, in the particular circuit shown, includes a line 315 connected to the main lead 313, an intermediate lead 316 extending from the lead 315 to one terminal of the switch operating coil 314, a lead 317 extending from the other terminal of the coil 314 to one terminal of the cover switch 65, a switch contactor bar 318 in the cover switch 65, and a lead 31% extending from the other terminal of the cover switch to one side of the micro-switch S. When the cover switch is closed (which occurs when the cover itself is closed) and the microswitch S is closed, the circuit through the main switch operating coil 314 is completed through a contact bar 320 of the micro-switch, a lead 321 extending from the second contact of the micro-switch to one terminal of the pressure switch 331, through the contactor bar 302 of the pressure switch, and then through a lead 322 extending from the other terminal of the pressure switch to the main lead 311. The timer operated switch in the timer 146 and the solenoid 209 (which opens the micro-switch 320 and serves to drop the control levers 151 and 152 in the manner previously described) are in parallel elec- 't'rical relationship with the main switch operating coil 314 and the cover switch 65, and are in electrical series with the micro-switch S and the pressure switch 301. The circuit through the timer switch and the solenoid 209 comprises the lead 315 which extends from the main line 313 to one terminal of the timer operated switch in the timer 146, a contact bar 322 in the timer, and a lead 323 extending from the other terminal of the timer switch to one side of the coil 210 of the solenoid 209. The other side of the solenoid coil is connected, in common with the lead 319, to one side of the microswitch S. The circuit through the solenoid 209 is of course completed through the contact bar 320 of the micro-switch S, the lead 321, the pressure switch 301 and the lead 322 extending from the pressure switch tothe main lead 311.

As previously described, raising of the levers 151 and 152 on the front of the control panel 148 of the control housing 144 pulls the rod 212 and the armature 211 of the solenoid 209 downwardly manually to close the micro-switch S. If, when this has been done, the air pressure in the line 300 is sufficient to maintain the pressure switch 301 in its closed position and the cover 52 of the extractor has been closed to close the cover switch 65, it will be seen that the coil 314 will be energized to close the main switches MS to energize and start the driving motor 92. Before raising the levers 151 and 152 to start the operation of the driving motor 92 the operator sets the timer 146, the timer being a spring or an electrical clock mechanism of any well known suitable type. The setting of the timer 146 opens its switch bar 322 so that the solenoid 209 will not be energized when the levers 151 and 152 are raised to close the switch bar 320 of the micro-switch S. When the timer 146 times out, however, its switch bar 322 drops to closed position completing the circuit through the sole noid 209 and the switch bar 320 of the micro-switch. The energization of the coil of the solenoid 209 immediately raises its armature 211 and the rod 212 (Fig. 8) to kick the levers 151 and 152 downwardly. This same upward movement of the rod 212 opens the switch bar 320 of the micro-switch to interrupt the circuit through the coil 210 of the solenoid 209. As a result, the solenoid is energized only momentarily and will thus not be overloaded. The opening of the switch bar 320 of the micro-switch S, in addition to interrupting the circuit through the solenoid 209, also interrupts the circuit through the cover switch 65 and the coil 314 of the main switches MS, thereby deenergizing the coil 314 and causing the main switches to open to interrupt the flow of electric current to the drive motor 92. It will thus be seen that the drive motor is deenergizcd when the timer 146 times out, and that the drive motor can be energized only when the switch cover 65 has been closed by a closing of the cover of the extractor and only when the supply of air in the line 300 is sufiicient to hold the pressure switch 301 in its closed position.

Operation The various conditions of the fluid and electrical portions of the automatic control system for the extractor are illustrated in Figs. 16 to 19, wherein the heavily drawn pipes represent those containing air under pressure and those shown by light parallel lines represent pipes in which there is no air pressure. Fig. 16 represents the condition of the automatic control system immediately before and after rotation of the extractor basket has been stopped. At this time the belt tensioning means, comprising the chamber 140, and the lower ends of the cover cylinders 57 are being vented, the motor is off, the brake is on and the cover is still closed. The condition of the system represented in Fig. 17 is the condition existing following that represented in Fig. 16. The extractor basket has now been brought to its full stopped condition, the 'belt tension. has been released by complete venting of the air pressure over the oil in the chamber 140 so as to permit the piston 132 and the rod 113 to return to their normal positions, the cover of the extractor has been raised, and the brake has been released. The release of the brake and the releasing of the tension in the belts 89 permits manual turning of the extractor basket as desired during its unloading and reloading.

Fig. 18 represents the condition of the automatic control system when the extractor is running to extract liquid from the clothes or other fabrics contained within the extractor basket. In this condition the cover has been closed, the belt tensioning means has been extended to tension the belts, and the brake is 011. Fig. 19 represents the control system in the condition existing therein after the timer 146 has timed out and the extractor basket is slowing down. In this condition the belts 89 are still tensioned, the cover is still closed, the motor is deenergized, and the brake has been applied to slow down the rotation of the extractor basket.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 16, which shows the condition of the control system immediately before or after stopping, it will be seen that air under pressure exists in the pipe 143 and in the upper portion of the chamber 140, causing the oil in the lower portion of the chamber and in the pipe 128 to extend the piston 132 and the rod 113 to exert outward pressure on the bracket (Fig. 2) on the drive motor 92 to hold the motor in its outwardly pivoted condition on the trunnions 103 to hold the belts 89 in their .tensioned condition. At this time, however, the fly balls 276 (Fig. 13) of the speed responsive valve at the upper end of the motor 92 will have approached or will have reached their inward positions, as shown in Fig. 13, to raise the ball valve 290 from its seat and permit the venting of air pressure in the pipe 293 past the valve ball and out through the passage 294 in the valve block 283. The air pressure in the pipe 143 and over the oil in the cylinder 140, as well as the air pressure in the lower end of the cover cylinders 57, is accordingly being vented through the motor speed responsive valve, the pipe 310 leading to the lower end of the cover cylinders 57 and the pipe 143 being vented through the pipe 293, through the inner-connecting pipe 309, and through the diaphragm valve A, which at this time has no air pressure applied to its diaphragm and its valve ball 228 (Fig. 14) therefore being permitted to be raised by pressure in the pipe 309 to permit passage of air through diaphragm valve A in the direction shown by the arrows in Fig. 16. At this time, air under pressure from the pressure supply line 177 passes through the normally open valve N0 of Fig. 11 into the pipe 174. The diaphragm 233 of the diaphragm valve B, however, is still under the pressure of the air remaining in the pipe 293, thereby holding the valve ball 228 of the diaphragm valve B in its closed position. As soon, however, as the pressure in the pipe 293 has been sufficiently vented through the motor speed responsive valve, the pressure in the pipe 174 overcomes the downward force on the valve ball 228 of the diaphragm valve B and raises the valve ball to its open position, thereby permitting air under pressure to flow from the pipe 174 through the diaphragm valve and into the pipe 306. The pipe 306 leads to the upper end of the cover cylinders 57 and the air under pressure introduced in the pipe 306 therefore fiows into the upper ends of the cover cylinders to move the cover cylinder pistons downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 17 to open the cover 52 of the extractor. At this same time, air. from the pipe 306 flows into the pipe 305 and thence to the double check valve T, causing the valve ball 250 thereof to move to the left (as viewed in Figs. 15 and 17) to close the outlet into pipe 304 but permit the pressure from the pipe 305 to flow into the pipe 256 and thence to the brake cylinder 87 to extend the brake piston and thereby release the brake. By the time the cover for the extractor has been raised and the brake has been released, as illustrated by the l7 condition of the'system in Fig. 17, all of the air pressure above the level of the oil in the chamber 140 will have been vented through the motor speed responsive valve to release the tension on the drive belts 89.

When the air pressure has been vented from the upper portion of the chamber 140, as previously'described, the piston 132 of thebelt tensioning means will 'be returned to its normalposition substantially in the position illustrated in Fig. .3)'by the tendency of the motor 92 to swing back to its normal suspended position on its trunnions. The outward force on thepiston rod 129 and the rod 113 (Fig. 2) will thus be released to release the outward force previously exerted on the bracket 110 =mounted on the lower end ofthe drive'motor 92. The motor 92 will thus be permittedto hang on its trunnions 103 in its normal position, thereby releasing the tension in the belts 89. It is desirable during this condition to maintain in the belts certain residual tension of a minor character sufficient to prevent the 'belts from falling or slipping from the drive pulleys 50 and 90. This minor tension is maintained by the spring 115 which encompasses the rod 113 and bears at its opposite ends upon the pin 116 extending through the rod 113'and upon the downwardly extending leg 114' of the bracket 114 mounted on the lower side of the base portion 22 of the extractor casing. The compressive "force in this spring causes the outer end of the pin 112 on the rod 113 to bear "in the recess 1110f the bracket 11'0 su'tficiently to prevent the drive motor 92 inadvertently "from being swung toward the extractor casing and sufficiently to'maintain enough tension in the belts 89 to prevent their sliding from the drive pulleys.

During the time when the extractor and its automatic control system are in the full stopped condition, represented by 'Fig. 17, the operator unloads the extractor and reloads 'it, distributing the fabrics in the interior'of the extractor basket. During this refilling operation the extractor basket may be turned manually as may be desired during the distribution of the new load, inasmuch as no substantial tension exists in the drive belts 89 and the brake is off. When the extractor has been filled, the operator moves over to a position in front of the control housing 144 and turns the knob 147 (Fig. 7) of the timer 146, thereby-resetting the'timer for any desired duration and at the same time openingthe contact bar 322 of the timer switch. The operator then raises the levers 15 1 and 152 which permits the control system to immediately progress from the condition illustrated in Fig. 17 to that illustrated in Fig. 18. The raising of the lever 152 closes the normally open valve N of Fig. 1-1, the valve ball 163 thereof being moved upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 11 into seated contact with the seat 172, thereby shutting off the air entering from the air supply line 177 and at the sametime venting the pipe 174 rearwardly through the passage 173 of the valve and downwardly around the stem 166 and thence outwardly through the passage .180 and the vent 181. The venting of the pipe 174 in this manner releases the pressure in the pipe 306 and in the upper ends of the cover cylinders 57, venting the same back through the diaphragm valve B and through the pipe 174 and the normally open, but now closed, valve of Fig. 11.. At the same time, the raising of the lever 151 opens the normally closed valve NC of Fig. 12 to permit .air under pressure in pipe 177 to flow through the valve and into the pipe 303. This air pressure in the pipe '303 is immediately applied to the diaphragm of diaphragm valve A to close the same, and at the same time air under pressure flows from the pipe 303 through the pipe 307 and the one-way check valve 308 and into the pipe .309. From the pipe 309 this air flows under pressurethrough the pipe 310 to the lower ends ofthe cover cylinders .57 and through the pipe 143 into the upper portion of the chamber 140. Introduction of air under pressure into the lower ends of the cover cylinders 57 closes the cover 52 of the extractor is and the introduction of air under pressure into the upper portion of chamber causes the piston 132 of the belt tensioning means to be extended to exert force upon the bracket 110 on the lower portion of the drive motor 92 to pivot the motor on its trunnions 103 and tension the belts 89.

The manual raising of the levers 151 and 152 also draws the rod 212 (Fig. 8) downwardly, as previously explained, to close the micro-switch S. Thereafter, when the cover of the extractor reaches its fully closed position and the cover switch 65 is closed, the previously described "circuitthrough the cover switch, the micro-switch S, and the pressure switch 301, is completed to energize the coil 31 i and close themain switches MS to start the driving motor 92. The extractor then proceeds to run during the time interval that has been set by the operator on the'timer 146 and the operator is free to go about his other duties.

When the timer 146 times out and its switch bar 322 drops to its closedposition, the automatic control system tor the extractor automatically progresses from its run ning position, illustrated in Fig. 18, to its slowing down position shown in Fig. 19. The closing of the switch in the timer 146, as previously explained, energizes the solenoid 209 which immediately opens the micro-switch S which, in turn, interrupts the circuit to the coil 314 that opens the main switches MS to shut off the current to the driving motor 92. Energization of the solenoid 209 also trips the links and 201 (Fig. 8) outwardly past their over-center positions, as previously described, to cause the levers 151 and .152 on the front of the control panel to drop to their lowered positions, thereby opening the normally opened valve N0 of Fig. 11 and closing the normally closed valve NC of Fig. 12. The closing of the valve NC of Fig. 12 immediately shuts off the supply of air to the pipe 3.03 and vents that pipe back through the valve .assembly and outwardly through the passages and 196 thereof. The venting of the pipe 303 releases the pressure on the diaphragm of the diaphragm valve A, which permits the same to open and cause the pressure of the air existing in the pipe 309, the pipe 3.10 leading to the bottoms of the cover cylinders 57, and the air pressure existing in the pipe 143 and in the chamber 140 of the belt tensioning means to pass through the diaphragm valve A and into the pipe 293 leading to the motor speed responsive valve located on the upper end of the drive motor 92. This motor speed responsive valve, however, will be closed, as previously explained, until the motor has stopped or until the speed of rotation of the motor 92 has been reduced to some other predetermined minimum, at which time the valve will be opened. Thus, while the extractor basket and its drive motor 92 are slowing down, pressure is maintained in the lower portion of the cover cylinders 57 and in the belt tensioning means, respectively, to maintain the cover in its closed position and to maintain the belts 89 in tensioned condition.

At the time the solenoid 209 is energized by the timing out of the timer 146 to bring about the change in the condition of the automatic control system from its running condition of Fig. 18 to its slowing down condition of Fig. 19, the venting of the pipe 303 through the normally closed valve NC of Fig. 12 vents the pipe 256 leading to the brake cylinder 87. As a consequence, the pressure in the pipe 255 and. in the brake cylinder 87 is released and the air therein is vented through the ball check valve T, the pipe 304 and the pipe 303 through the normally closed valve, as previously explained. This venting of the pressure from the brake cylinder 87 occurs simultaneously with the venting of the pipe 3.133 and the release of pressure from the diaphragm of the diaphragm valve A and results in the application of the brake to slow down the rotation of the extractor basket and the drive motor 92. When rotation of the motor stops or, if desired, as the speed of rotation of the motor reaches its predetermined minimum (depending upon how the speed respon- 19 sive valve is adjusted by rotation of the cap 286 thereof) the motor speed responsive valve opens and begins the venting of the lower portion of the cover cylinders 57 and the chamber 140 of the belt tensioning means, as illustrated in 16. As soon as this venting has been completed, the diaphragm valve B will automatically open and introduce pressure from the pipe 174 to the upper ends of the cover cylinders to raise the cover, thus completing one complete cycle of operation. The extractor basket may then be unloaded and reloaded and another automatic cycle of operation started by setting the timer 146 and lifting upwardly on the two levers 151 and 152.

Summary By way of summary, it will be noted from the above description that when an automatic cycle of operation of the extractor is initiated by the operator by setting the timer 146 and lifting the levers 151 and 152, the extractor automatically prepares itself for operation before the motor is energized. More specifically, when the timer is set and the levers 151 and 152 are raised, the belt tensioning means is automatically actuated to extend the piston rod 113, 129 to separate the motor 92 and the movable base 22 to tension the belts 89. At the same time, automatic closing of the cover 52 is begun. When the cover reaches its full closed position the belts will have been fully tensioned and the motor 92 is then automatically energized to drive the shaft 26 and the extractor basket thereon. Inasmuch as the belts are fully tensioned before the motor is energized there is no slippage of the belts on the pulleys when the motor is started. During the running of the extractor, the vibrations of the basket and its shaft 26, caused by unbalance of the load in the basket, causes motion of the movable base 22 and the remainder of the extractor casing which is dampened and snubbed by the snubber-like suspension of the casing from the mounting pedestals 28. This motion of the extractor casing is resiliently transmitted to the motor 92 which itself is resiliently and pivotally mounted in the rubber bushings 104 in the trunnions, swinging motion of the motor being in unison with that of the base 22 of the extractor and being absorbed by snubbing, twisting action of the rubber bushings 104, so that throughout the period during which the extractor basket is rotated the distance between the motor shaft and the shaft 26 is maintained substantially at a constant that is determined by the actual lengths of the belts 89 rather than by mechanical parts that are subject to wear and maladjustment. The tension in the belts 89 is thus resiliently maintained during operation of the extractor in spite of the vibrations that may be encountered and in spite of any reasonable amount of wear and stretching that the belts may have undergone as a result of prior use. When the timer 146 times out, the electric power to the motor is immediately cut off and the brake is applied to slow down and bring the extractor basket to a halt. It will be noted, however, that the tension in the belts 89 is not immediately released when the motor is deenergized. Instead, the tension is maintained while the motor and the extractor basket are slowing down, thereby utilizing the friction of the motor to assist in slowing down the extractor basket. This also avoids wear on the belts that would otherwise occur if the belts were permitted to slip on the pulleys 50 and 90 while the slowing down of the extractor is taking place. Finally, when the rotation of the motor and the extractor basket has stopped or almost stopped, venting of the air in the belt tensioning means is begun along with venting of the air in the lower ends of the cover operating cylinders 57 which theretofore has held the cover in a tightly closed condition. This venting takes place through the motor speed responsive valve on the upper end of the motor and results in release of the tension in the belts 89. After this venting has taken place, the cover 52 is automatically opened and the brake is released. Release of the brake and release of the tension in the belts thereupon permits easy turning of the extractor basket during loading, and the absence of tension in the belts during loading: and during other idle periodsadds materially to the lift .of the belts. .f

The foregoing description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be inferred therefrom, for it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and variations may be made in the construction shown without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a centrifugal extractor having a centrifuging container on a shaft rotatably mounted on a base that is adapted for limited movement with the oscillations and vibrations of the container resulting from the unbalance of the container during rotation thereof, the combination comprising, a drive motor mounted independently of said base and said container, a drive belt extending from said motor to said shaft for rotating said container, automatic cycle controlling means for automatically energizing said motor to drive said container and for thereafter deenergizing said motor, said automatic cycle controlling means including means for tensioning said belt before said motor is energized and for releasing the tension in said belt after said motor has been deenergized.

2. In a centrifugal extractor having a centrifuging container on a shaft rotatablymounted on a base that is adapted for limited movement with the oscillations and vibrations of the container resulting from unbalance of the container during rotation thereof, the combination comprising, a drive motor mounted independently of said base and said container, a drive belt extending from said motor to said shaft for rotating said container, automatic cycle controlling means for automatically energizing said motor to drive said container and for thereafter deenergizing said motor, means for tensioning said belt before said motor is energized, and means responsive to reduction in the rotative speed of said motor for auto matically releasing the tension in said belt.

3. In a centrifugal extractor having a centrifugal container on a shaft rotatably mounted on a base that is adapted for limited movement with the oscillations and vibrations of the container resulting from unbalance of the container during rotation thereof, the combination comprising, a drive motor mounted independently of said base and said container, a drive belt extending from said motor to said shaft for rotating said container, means for maintaining residual tension in 'said'belt, automatic cycle controlling means for automatically energizing said motor to drive said container and for thereafter deenergizing said motor, means for materially increasing the tension of said belt before said motor is energized, and means automatically actuated after said motor has been deenergized for eliminating the increased tension in said belt.

4. In a centrifugal extractor having a centrifuging container on a rotatable shaft, the combination comprising, a drive motor mounted independently of said shaft and said container, a drive belt extending from said motor to said shaft for rotating said container, resilient means for maintaining residual tension in said belt, automatic cycle controlling means for automatically energizing said motor to drive said container and for thereafter de energizing said motor, means for increasing the tension of said belt before said motor is energized, and means responsive to reduction in the rotative speed of said motor after said motor has been deenergized for eliminating the increased tension in said belt.

5. In a centrifugal extractor having a centrifuging container on a rotatable shaft, the combination comprising,

trolling means for automatically energizing said motor to drive said container and for thereafter deenergizing said motor, means actuated prior to the energization of said motor for increasing the tension of said belt, and means responsive to reduction in the rotative speed of said motor for deactuating said tension increasing means.

6. In a centrifugal extractor having a centrifugal container on a rotatable shaft, the combination comprising, a drive motor mounted independently of said shaft and said container, a drive belt extending from said motor to said shaft for rotating said shaft and said container, and automatic cyclc controlling means for automatically energizing said motor, deenergizing said motor after lapse of predetermined time, and for thereafter braking said container to a stop, said automatic cycle controlling means including means for tensioning said belt before said motor is energized and for automatically releasing the tension in said belt after said motor has been deenergized.

7. In a centrifugal extractor having a centrifuging container on a rotatable shaft, the combination comprising, a drive motor mounted independently of said shaft and said container, a drive belt extending from said motor to said shaft for rotating said shaft and said container, and automatic cycle controlling means for automatically energizing said motor, deenergizing said motor after lapse of predetermined time, and for thereafter braking said container to a stop, said automatic cycle controlling means including means for tensioning said belt before said motor is energized and means responsive to the speed of said motor for releasing said tension.

8. In a centrifugal extractor having a centrifuging container mounted on a base that is adapted for limited movement with the oscillations and vibrations of the containerresulting from unbalance of said container during rotation thereof, the combination comprising, a pulley on said base operatively connected to said container for rotating said container, a drive motor movably mounted independently of said base and said container, a drive belt extending from said motor to said pulley for driving said pulley and said container, an extensible brace between said base and said motor for transmitting movements of one to the other, and an automatic control system for automatically operating said extractor, including means for energizing said motor to rotate said container, means actuated prior to the energization of said motor for extending said brace to increase the tension of said belt, means for deenergizing said motor, and means for automatically deactuating said brace extending means after deenergization of said motor for reducing the tension of said belt.

9. In a centrifugal extractor having a centrifuging container mounted on a base that is adapted for limited movement with the oscillations and vibrations of the container resulting from unbalance of said container during rotation thereof, the combination comprising, a pulley on said base operatively connected to said container for rotating said container, a drive motor movably mounted independently of said base and said container, a drive belt extending from said motor to said pulley for driving said pulley and said container, an extensible brace between said base and said motor for transmitting movements of one to the other, and an automatic control system for automatically operating said extractor, including means for energizing said motor to rotate said container, means actuated prior to the energization of said motor for extending said brace to separate said motor and said base and thereby increase the tension of said belt, means for deenergizing said motor, and means responsive to reduction of the rotative speed of said motor for deactuating said brace extending means to reduce the tension of said belt.

10. In a centrifugal extractor having a centrifuging container mounted on a base that is adapted for limited movement with the oscillations and vibrations of the container resulting from unbalance of said container during rotation thereof, the combination comprising, a pulley on said base operatively connected to said container for rotating said container, a drive motor movably mounted independently of said base and said container, a drive belt extending from said motor to said pulley for driving said pulley and said container, an extensible brace between said base and said motor for transmitting movements of one to the other, a fluid operated piston for extending said brace, and an automatic control system for automatically operating said extractor, including means for energizing said motor to rotate said container, means for applying fluid under pressure to said piston prior to energization of said motor for extending said brace and thereby increase the tension of said belt, means for deenergizing said motor, and means operative after deenergization of said motor for releasing said fluid pressure on said piston to decrease the tension of said belt.

11. In a centrifugal extractor having a rotatable centrifuging container'on a base and a pulley on said base for turning said container, the combination comprising, a drive motor movably mounted independently of said base and said container and spaced from said pulley, a drive belt extending from said motor to said pulley for driving said pulley and said container, an extensible brace between said base and said motor, a cylinder containing a movable piston connected to said brace for extending said brace to increase the space between said pulley and said motor, and an automatic control system for said extractor including means for applying fluid under pressure to said piston to extend said brace and thereby increase the tension of said belt and for thereafter releasing said fluid pressure to reduce then tension of said belt.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,659,391 Curtis Feb. 14, 1928 1,663,344 Lennard Mar. 20, 1928 1,717,359 Aldrich June 18, 1929 2,479,365 Johnson Aug. 16, 1949 2,521,054 Ellis Sept. 5, 1950 2,618,141 Clark Nov. 18, 1952 

